GAME REPORT

Gravelines Put One Foot In Last 16

David Noel added 12 points for BCM Gravelines, as they broke open a close game in the final 10 minutes

BCM Gravelines Dunkerque are on the verge of a place in the last 16 of EuroChallenge after an 83-67 road win over Tsmoki-Minsk.

The French side bust open a tight game with a dominant fourth quarter performance as they swept to victory, improving to 3-1 at the top of the group.

The two teams went into this clash level in the standings and they could barely be separated through the first three quarters.

When someone did threaten to break away, it was Minsk.

They led 25-18 on Aliaksandr Pustahvar's lay-up early in the second quarter - only to see Gravelines respond with a 10-0 run - and then 49-41 on Aliaksei Lashkevich's driving lay-up midway through the third, a lead again quickly wiped out as Gravelines scored seven straight.

Minsk were up 59-55 when Pavel Ulyanko hit a three-pointer late in the third quarter, but Yannick Bokolo's lay-up cut the gap before the buzzer and proved to be the start of a 12-0 run that had them up 67-59 on Sarra Camara's lay-up.

When Mbaye followed a three-pointer with a fast-break lay-up the lead had stretched to 72-61 and Gravelines were on their way to victory, ultimately outscoring Minsk 26-8 in the final 10 minutes.

Mbaye led Gravelines with 16 points while Bokolo had 14, David Noel and Dwight Buycks 12 each.

Ulyanko had 19 points for Minsk, with Lashkevich collecting 11.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes Tsmoki-Minsk vs. BCM Gravelines Dunkerque

BCM Gravelines player Abdoulaye Mbaye"It was not an easy game and it is really good to win it. Yes, it was a second game I have done very well, but this is my usual way to play. I try to be faster than my opponents and today I was."

BCM Gravelines head coach Christian Monschau"We are really happy to win this game. We came to Minsk without one of our leaders and were really afraid of their big center. Today he stayed on the bench."

Minsk player Aleksei Lashkevich"We wanted to win and we had an opportunity for it. However, we lost the last quarter and you can't blame one player for playing bad, our team did so."

Tsmoki-Minsk head coach Andrey Krivonos"We still have not lost our chances. But we are very upset to lose this game. The main cause is in our shooting guards. Unfortunately, they tried to shoot instead of organising the game."

67-83

COACH QUOTES

Quotes Tsmoki-Minsk vs. BCM Gravelines Dunkerque

BCM Gravelines player Abdoulaye Mbaye"It was not an easy game and it is really good to win it. Yes, it was a second game I have done very well, but this is my usual way to play. I try to be faster than my opponents and today I was."

BCM Gravelines head coach Christian Monschau"We are really happy to win this game. We came to Minsk without one of our leaders and were really afraid of their big center. Today he stayed on the bench."

Minsk player Aleksei Lashkevich"We wanted to win and we had an opportunity for it. However, we lost the last quarter and you can't blame one player for playing bad, our team did so."

Tsmoki-Minsk head coach Andrey Krivonos"We still have not lost our chances. But we are very upset to lose this game. The main cause is in our shooting guards. Unfortunately, they tried to shoot instead of organising the game."